Meet Your New Neighbor: Neima Coffee & Cafe Opens in Lemont Downtown
Neima Coffee & Cafe is a welcoming bakery and coffee shop, located in the heart of Lemont Downtown. We spoke with Ghada Muhsen, the pastry mastermind, and Noor Muhsen, her son, to learn about this family-run business, their outstanding baked goods, and the love they have for the Lemont community.
AM: Thanks for taking the time to speak with us, Ghada and Noor! Tell me about Neima Coffee & Cafe. What inspired you to open in Lemont?
NM: Our family owns and runs Neima Cafe. My mother, Ghada, is a fantastic pastry chef, and she comes from a lineage of chefs. Baking is an art and our passion. We named the cafe after my grandmother. Our family and culture are passionate about food and how it brings people together. The hills and streets in Lemont reminded my parents of back home, where people could easily walk and gather.
AM: It’s fantastic to hear your cafe is family-run, and you put so much care into providing fresh, high-quality baked goods! Could you tell me about what inspires your recipes?
NM: Our philosophy is to prioritize quality, community, and culture. We pay attention to every detail, care about connecting with the close-knit Lemont community, and want to share the tastes of our culture. My mother bakes fantastic pastries and desserts representing our culture.
GM: I’ve been working on different matcha recipes that will be available at the cafe very soon. We’re adding Tres Leches matcha and matcha cheesecake to our menu.
AM: That all sounds scrumptious. We can’t wait to taste these bites and drinks from Neima Cafe! What are a few recommendations you have for someone’s first time visiting the cafe?
NM: The Spanish latte, Nutella cheesecake, and Oreo cheesecake are very popular. Our regulars love the matcha drinks. It’s a great feeling to see how well-received our bakery and cafe offerings have been with the community here.
AM: I love Ghada’s creativity as she crafts a variety of baked goods and drinks! Looking at the year ahead, do you have any menu sneak peeks you’d like to share with us?
GM: I love experimenting with recipes and drawing inspiration from unique and seasonal ingredients. An ingredient that I’m excited to work with is the Buddha’s Hand lemon. We’re constantly developing new ideas and are excited to introduce a range of flavor and texture experiences to our customers and the Lemont community.
Neima Coffee & Cafe is located at 317 Front St in Lemont, Illinois. Their hours are Monday-Friday, 7 AM to 9 PM, Saturday, 9 AM to 9 PM, and Sunday, 9 AM to 8 PM. Keep up with them on Instagram and Facebook.
